"Stay here. I'll be right back. Want a soda? Water?"
Gen nodded. "Water would be good."
"Keep the doors locked. The windows are tinted, so no one should see you."
She blinked, trying to focus on the charred embers that now composed her life. "I left my phone. I have to tell them I'm safe."
"We will. Just hang tight for a minute. Okay?"
She nodded again and watched him walk into Walmart. He got a bunch of stares from the teenyboppers milling around in the lot. Wolfe always got stares, but in a tuxedo he was lethal. With that tall, muscled body and wicked tattoo, he had bad boy wanting to be tamed stamped all over him. So different from David, with his angelic good looks and smooth charm.
David.
The full horror of what she'd done slammed through her. She'd run away and left him at the altar. The man she claimed to love. Her boss and chief of the surgical unit where her entire career was carved out. All of her stuff had been moved into his apartment. They held tickets for a Bermuda honeymoon. Her parents were probably sobbing, humiliated, and angry with her. Izzy was the one who brought stress--not her. Gen was the good one. The smart one. The one who never, ever caused any trouble.
What was she going to do? How could she go back to her life?
Thoughts and images swarmed in her head like pissy bees getting ready to attack. She pressed her fingers to her temples and wondered if she'd die by brain explosion.
The door opened. Wolfe thrust two plastic bags at her and a bottle of Poland Spring. "Here. First drink this. You look like you're doing the freak-out thing."
She swallowed a few sips of water. Then looked up at him for his next instructions. He gave a gentle smile and knelt down beside the car. Not speaking, he sifted through the tangled chestnut curls of her hair, and worked out each of the pins. Then he rubbed her scalp, pulling his fingers through the strands until they slid freely of knots. Gen studied his familiar features while he took care of her. Strong square jaw. Facial hair clinging to his upper lip and chin in a sexy goatee. Stinging blue eyes that burned like a laser, cutting through people's bullshit and social veneers with no apology. His head was usually shaved clean, but he'd been growing it in, so dark curls softened his face just a bit. The serpent ink crept up his neck as if choking him. She was always fascinated by the tattoo. Traced in simple black, the impressive snake started low on his chest, worked its way up his arms and one shoulder, and ended right under his ear. Almost as if the creature was consistently whispering something to him. He was a gym rat, so the muscles under his clothes were hard and unforgiving, from his eight-pack stomach to the meaty biceps. Her gaze traveled to his wrists, where the matching leather bands were revealed by his rolled-up shirtsleeves. She'd never spotted him without them. He'd made the accessories famous by his underwear ads. Many young men followed his example until the wristbands became the hottest new trend.
Funny, from the moment they met, they'd been fated to be friends. Their heart-to-heart conversation set the stage for the future, with none of that crappy sexual tension or flirting. Just a good buddy of the opposite sex who meant the world to her. Kate was her best friend feminine equal, and Wolfe her male.
He reached behind her and pulled open the row of pearl-encrusted buttons down the back. He pointed to the bags. "Put these clothes on."
She took out the denim shorts, T-shirt, and flip-flops. "I look terrible in orange."
His lip quirked. "Not much choice on the bargain table. The rest were extra large."
"Sorry. Being a runaway bride makes me a bit bitchy." Gen transferred to the backseat and tugged off the dress. Sweet, pure air filled her lungs once the tight fabric slid off, and she quickly divested her garters and stockings, scrambling into the comfy clothes and pulling off the price tags. She dug out a small package of hair bands from the bag and quickly scooped the strands into a short ponytail. Then got out.
Wolfe nodded. "Good. Got us some snacks for the road, so dig in when you want."
Gen peered into the other plastic bag at the contents of a true road trip. Candy bars, Doritos, and a few Slim Jims. "Are those Sno Balls? I didn't think they made them anymore."
"Yeah, me neither. I got lucky."
"Where are we going?"
"Gonna stay at Sawyer's cabin on the lake for a few days. Just until things die down and you get your head together."
Panic reared back up and nipped at her nerves. "I have to call my family."
"Already done. I texted Alexa and Kate. Those were the two you wanted to contact, right?"
She slid her arms around her chest and squeezed, rocking back on her heels. "Yes. What did you tell them?"
"That you were sorry you ran out but you couldn't marry David. That you needed to get yourself together and would be in touch. That you were okay and not to contact you for a bit."
"What about the reception? Where are people going to go? What about the press?"
His voice held a rich command that vibrated with intensity. "Alexa and Kate are a power team together. They'll handle it. Right now, you need to let me take care of things."
Relief loosened her muscles. Yes. For a little while, Wolfe would take care of things. She'd retreat, make some decisions, and clean up the mess she made. But not now. "Thank you."
"No problem. Let's go."
They got back into the car and drove. The Mercedes gobbled up the miles as they worked their way from Verily, in upstate New York, hit the thruway, and headed north. The music was loud, the wind whipped at her hair, and the scenery whizzed by in a comforting blur. She nibbled at a Hershey's chocolate bar while Wolfe munched on chips and sipped his soda.
Gen closed her eyes and pretended she was off for a weekend getaway. Over the past year, each time she tried to see Wolfe, David gave her a hard time. The pressure and guilt became too much. Her fiance reminded her how little time they spent together with their crazy work schedules, and her little forays with Wolfe were causing a break in their relationship.
Gen considered herself a strong woman. Gutsy. Opinionated. Yet when David turned his charm and dedication into getting his point across, it was like the South at Gettysburg all over again. Defeat. So, she'd begun making excuses. She hated lying, but David rewarded her by being extra sweet and considerate, telling her over and over how good they were together if only she tried hard. She forgot how nice it was not to worry about saying something stupid, or not being witty or sexy enough. With Wolfe, there was only a comfortable silence and no need to fill the void with intelligent conversation.
The trees grew thicker and the landscape more rural as they turned off the exit and headed toward Saratoga Springs. They passed through the quaint town with its shops, neat landscaping, and sidewalks, reminding her of Verily, and kept going. Nine Inch Nails boomed from the stereo in direct contradiction to the woody hush as they veered off several side roads. The gravel spun beneath the tires, and wildly colored blooms dragged past the window, sticking out from a variety of brush and trees. Wolfe made a hard right and followed a path up a steep hill, winding in circles higher and higher until he cut the engine.
"This is it."
Gen sucked in her breath. The rustic log cabin held a character and warmth that immediately welcomed her home. Surrounded by brush, its wide porch held two rockers, the carved domes etched into the doorway as if a master woodcutter had created it. Large windows flanked both sides, and cobbled stones led out toward a lush garden in the back, then shot off in different directions. One led to a fire pit, the other to a small gazebo. The sounds of birds, grasshoppers, and bees swarmed in the air and took over where the music had played. The air hung musky and thick in the summer afternoon heat, and her nostrils filled with the scent of earth and flowers.
Yes. It would be good here. She'd figure everything out and get her life back in order.
"It's beautiful," she said in a hushed tone. "Why doesn't Sawyer rent it out for the summer?"
"He usually does, but this month he kept it open. The cabin's s
et back for privacy but near Fish Creek. Said if I wanted to get out of town and do some fishing, take some downtime, I'd have it available."
"Who would've thought you'd need to hide a crazy runaway bride?"
He didn't smile. For the first time since their getaway, a worried light gleamed in his eyes. Words hovered on his tongue but she didn't want to hear it, couldn't, so she stumbled out of the car before denial could no longer be her best friend. He paused a few beats but finally followed.
Gen stepped into the cabin. Gorgeous light played upon the pine floors and soaring ceilings with thick beams of support. A stone fireplace took up one main wall with a deep red throw rug in front. She walked around, taking note of the elaborate fishing gear, wildlife photos, and the warm, rustic atmosphere. The kitchen was a chef's dream, all top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, with double sinks and granite counters in a rich chocolate brown. "I never thought Sawyer was a big fisherman," she commented.
Wolfe snickered. "He's not. He dragged us out here last year, intent on showing Julietta the benefits of country life. Boasted he'd catch her a ton of fish and cook it up that night. Let's just say it's a good thing for pizza delivery."
Gen laughed. "Ouch. Well, he's a billionaire who runs a chain of hotels. Can't be good at everything."
"Tell him that. He's been watching those damn fishing shows on the Discovery Channel now, and thinks he'll redeem himself. Too bad Julietta refuses to come back. She's definitely a city girl."
Gen remembered meeting Julietta and Sawyer when they were in town. They lived in Milan, and had welcomed Wolfe into their family when he was nineteen and homeless. The couple represented everything she'd always wanted. They ran the most successful chain of bakeries and hotels in the world, fit perfectly together, and were madly in love. Exactly what she'd hoped to have with David.
She pushed the thought firmly away.
"Bedrooms are upstairs," Wolfe said. "I'll run into town and stock up on supplies and get you some clothes."
"How long are we going to stay?"
He studied her. Odd, he had such a hard face, all severe lines and carved features. His lips always held a bit of a snarl, as if he'd never outgrown that snarky teen boy he'd once been. But there was a wealth of gentleness underneath that always intrigued her. "When do you need to be back at the hospital?"
The reminder of her real life made her jerk. "A full week. We took a week for our honeymoon." The word made her slightly nauseous.
"Then we have time. We'll take it day by day. Do you want me to pick up anything specific you need?"
She shook her head. "No, I trust you."
The words dove deeper and he took a step forward. "Want to come with me?"
Gen forced a smile. "I'm going to rest. It's been a long day. I'll see you in a bit."
He frowned, and she almost laughed at his papa-bear expression. But then he gave a nod and headed back out the door. Her legs trembled with the sudden fear of being alone. Pathetic. She couldn't remember the last time she had no one surrounding her, or a task to complete, or a deadline to meet. For the past year, the hamster wheel was the only thing that made sense. Even sleep was never for more than a few hours, and always interrupted by dreams of endless lists and tasks. Her mind was no longer her own. Neither was her soul.
She walked down the hallway and into the bathroom. Turned on the light. And stared into the mirror.
The woman who gazed back was hardly recognizable. Brown hair scraped back in a ponytail. Makeup smudged. Shadows etched under her eyes. Full lips, high cheekbones. She'd lost more weight, so the bright orange T-shirt hung a bit loose over her shoulders.
Gen looked harder. Her usual vivid blue eyes were . . . empty. The spark had disappeared, and only a dull light reflected back at her. When had that happened? She'd always been driven but basically happy. Sure, she took on too much responsibility, but the world seemed a big, interesting place and she wanted to fill voids. Maybe egotistical, but surgeons were supposed to have a bit of a God complex. She ached to help, give back, and heal. She craved knowledge and experiences and wonder. But over the past year, all she experienced was crippling fear. The knowledge she wasn't enough for anyone. Not for the world. Not for David. Not even for herself.
Gen turned away from the mirror.
WOLFE DROVE FAST, INTENT on getting back to the cabin quickly. He struggled with leaving her alone, but realized she needed to process. They'd been on the run most of the day, and he bet she was pretending the whole event never happened. Because when the truth struck home, it was going to get messy.
Emotion tore through his chest. Damn, he'd never seen her like that. When he asked her straight-out if she wanted to marry David, pure fear skittered across her face. What had the asshole done to her? The fallout was going to be epic. Besides her close-knit family loving her fiance, she had just screwed her career, since he was her boss. Gen disliked bucking the system, especially her family. But Wolfe would get her through it. One lesson always sank home--nothing mattered except protecting your soul. God knows he'd lived through that himself. He'd walked away from everything and dove into the pitfalls of hell. And it was still worth it.
The painful simmers of the past tried to push past his consciousness, but he locked it back down. He needed to focus on Gen and giving her what she needed. Wolfe ripped through his errands, buying a couple of changes of clothes, underwear, a bathing suit, a case of water, and some basic groceries. There wasn't much selection, but the small town was perfect for hiding out for a few days. Most people came here for the recreational activities, to hit the famous racetrack at Saratoga, or to see the Baseball Hall of Fame in nearby Cooperstown.
He threw the bags into the car and reached into his pocket for his phone. Yep, it was bad. Voice mails poured in, from Alexa, Kate, Izzy, and Gen's mom. He pondered the idea of letting Gen know. No, she wasn't up for the consequences yet. Leaving your groom at the altar ended up with a mass of details. He'd buy her time.
Wolfe shot through the variety of messages and quickly dispersed news that gave away nothing. Alexa jumped to support her sister, and he knew he could count on her for calming down the family. Nothing from David yet. What was really going on behind the scenes with them? Was he hurting Gen? Why would she look so afraid of the man she was about to marry? Or was she just scared of hurting him?
He scrolled to the next message and shook his head. Kate was the worst. As Gen's best friend, she was hard-core when it came to protection. He smothered a laugh at the blinking words.
If u don't tell me where ur hiding her ur ass is grass. She needs me.
Wolfe tapped out his response:
She needs time, then my ass is all urs. Give her a day. I'm taking care of her.
The phone shrieked. Ah, crap. He stared at it for a while, but best friends were scary. He figured Kate would find a way to GPS them by the middle of the night, so he hit the button. "How is she? I'm coming to get her."
He kept his tone polite but firm. "Not yet. You gotta give me some time. She just ran away from her wedding and needs to get her head on straight. I'm asking you for help, Kate. Help me buy her some space."
A furious silence hummed over the line. "What's really going on? I had no idea she'd pull something like this. I mean, I've been worried about her, and knew she was stressed, but this is not Gen. Has she told you why?"
"No. But I'll find out. Is it bad there?"
A snort filled his ears. "You have no idea. It's chaos and I'm trying to keep everyone sane. David seems heartbroken and locked himself in the room with Gen's dad and his best man. The press smelled blood and stormed the church. Gen's mom thought she was kidnapped, insisting she'd never run. How the hell did she end up with you?"
Wolfe dragged in a breath. "She escaped through the window and I was there. Listen, Kate, there's something bigger going on, much more than some bridal jitters. I think she's afraid of the son of a bitch."
"What? Oh my God, has he hit her or something?"
"Don't kno
w. Just give me a few days to get the story and get her back on her feet. Please."
He waited her out. He knew Kate was stubborn, loyal, and loved Gen like her own sister. She was also extremely intuitive. "Okay. Keep texting me updates. I'll talk with her family and let them know she's lying low and will explain everything later. And I'll keep an eye on David. Maybe I'll figure out the real issue."
"Thanks.
He stuck his phone back into his pocket and got into the car. Something didn't add up, but he'd find out. Meanwhile, he'd stick close to Gen for the next few days. Purity--the hotel chain he helped run with Sawyer--was doing well, so he'd put in a call to one of his assistants to keep him informed. He couldn't remember the last time he took a day off, let alone a whole weekend. This would be good for both of them. A little fresh air, recharge the batteries, and get back into the real world.
Wolfe headed back to the cabin.
four
GENEVIEVE LOOKED UP as the car pulled into the driveway. A ghostly fog floated around her, almost as if she was stuck halfway on Earth and the other at a higher plane. She hoped much higher, since Catholic guilt from her mother was steeped in her soul. She didn't mind the numbness though. Much better than the panic attack dancing on the edge of her sanity.
No more mirrors. Keep busy. Don't think.
The three new rules of survival.
She jumped up from the porch and helped him haul in the bags. "You okay?" His sharp gaze traveled over every part of her, as if in the hour he'd left her alone she'd grown a few inches. Past her five-foot Hobbit status. He gently pushed her out of the way and scooped up the rest of the bags, allowing her to carry only the bread.
"Fine. You know I can lift a three-hundred-pound patient, right?"
"In that case, take this." He gave her a bag of eggs. "Wouldn't want you to get out of shape."
Their familiar banter soothed her nerves as she followed him inside and set the bags on the counter. "Do you want me to make dinner?" she asked.
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